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Vernon Davis' thought in today's MMQB. While it's certainly only 1 player's opinion, I still believe that AD is an athlete unlike anyone we've ever seen (even moreso than Randy Moss) and will still be an upper echelon RB even into his mid-30s.

A great athlete can still break down physically. Fortunately, Peterson does not have near the touches of a back like Tomlinson when he fell off, so there is likely more tread on the tires than we give Peterson credit for. However, it seems that Peterson has had nagging ankle and hip injuries the past several years. He needs to avoid these, which may be impossible to do at this point._________________

“I think Adrian Peterson is probably one of the most gifted running backs I have ever seen,” Martin said...It all depends on how long he can last in the NFL because if he can last for 15 years like Emmit Smith then he’ll probably have about 22,000 yards or something like that.”

Adrian Peterson is staring 30 years old right in the face, and he knows the stigma that number carries for NFL running backs.

Despite the recent injury issues, Peterson sees no reason to think he's slowing down. He doesn't buy into the 30-year-old barrier, preferring to compare himself to former teammate and noted NFL iron man Brett Favre than the average running back.

"Well, I was talking to Favre," Peterson said when asked how long he wants to play. "Forty sounds like a good number."

Great video, VD. It really is amazing how similar the two of them are.

EXACTLY.

Vikings running back Adrian Peterson has averaged less than 30 catches a season so far in his NFL career, but with a new coaching staff in Minnesota, Peterson may find himself having more passes thrown his way. Offensive coordinator Norv Turner said he wants to do more than just hand the ball to Peterson and let him run into an eight-man front, and the best way to get Peterson the ball in space may be to pass it to him.

Turner: “A big part of that is finding ways for Adrian to not have to run in such crowded areas all the time. He’s going to have to do that, that’s part of his job, he’s the best in the league at it. But if we can get him more space we can take advantage of his great abilities. He’s got good hands, I think he’s comfortable with the routes that we would ask him to run. It’s certainly not the lead part of what we’re doing. We threw a screen to him yesterday that was as nicely set up as you could ask for and the linemen got out in front. If we can get him in space like that throughout a game, throughout the season it will help all of us.”

Zimmer: “The way he catches the ball is very, very good, I didn’t know what kind of receiver he was. I think I’ve seen him drop one ball the whole time in three days of minicamp. Obviously, when he’s got the ball in the hands he’s extremely dangerous.”

The one thing I can say watching that video is that their styles are certainly similar, but AD's ability to cut is significantly quicker.

And as far as him catching the ball, I do like hearing that Norv is going to adjust his pass play calls on what AD can actually do...so, none of those sweep pass plays that require AD to be able to adjust after catching the ball quickly (that never seem to work). He's more of a guy that has to already be moving forward when catching the ball._________________

Great video, VD. It really is amazing how similar the two of them are.

Would Brown have been doing those things against the caliber of athlete that Peterson has had to?

well, that's the question you always have to ask when comparing players from different historical eras. we could say Peterson has benefited also from better nutrition and training than what was available in the late 50's when Brown started.

that's why i always look at how a player, regardless of era, played versus his own peers. Jim Brown was doing things no other player at the time could do, even though they played the same teams and their defenses. also, some of the records Brown set still hold today which is significant, like his average of 100+ yards per game over his career._________________

Adrian Peterson was once the king of rushing touchdowns, but last year he wasn’t even in the top half of the NFL. His decline could have simply been a result of the play-calling.

In 2013, Peterson had just eight carries inside the 5-yard line and scored four TDs – both career lows. The combination of Ponder and Matt Cassel threw the ball 10 times and scored TDs on just three of them.

To put Peterson’s numbers in perspective, 23 running backs had more RBRZ carries than him last year, including Willis McGahee, Mike Tolbert, Joique Bell, Zac Stacy, Rashad Jennings, Rashard Mendenhall, Michael Bush and Montee Ball – who was second on his own team.

Adrian Peterson was once the king of rushing touchdowns, but last year he wasn’t even in the top half of the NFL. His decline could have simply been a result of the play-calling.

In 2013, Peterson had just eight carries inside the 5-yard line and scored four TDs – both career lows. The combination of Ponder and Matt Cassel threw the ball 10 times and scored TDs on just three of them.

To put Peterson’s numbers in perspective, 23 running backs had more RBRZ carries than him last year, including Willis McGahee, Mike Tolbert, Joique Bell, Zac Stacy, Rashad Jennings, Rashard Mendenhall, Michael Bush and Montee Ball – who was second on his own team.

When asked by a Pioneer Press photographer how she should be identified in photos of them together on the red carpet, she said "Ashley." When asked for her last name, she hesitated and then replied "Peterson."

Previously she has been identified in the media as Ashley Brown, his longtime girlfriend. She was also sporting a sizable diamond ring on her finger at the Starkey event.